The right supplier can help your organisation to achieve its goals
“RS is in business to help our customers be more efficient and achieve their maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) goals,” says Richard Graham, Industry Sector Manager at RS. “Whether that’s an engineer who needs the right products to be available quickly, a contract manager striving to hit uptime KPIs or a procurement lead trying to streamline sourcing and ensure compliance, RS has a range of products, services and solutions that can take some of the pain, and cost, out of managing and maintaining facilities.”
Graham believes organisations should be looking for the following six key essentials when working with a supplier who can service needs for MRO:
1. Quick access to products
We want the whole process, from finding the product you need to getting it delivered to your facility, to be as streamlined and efficient as possible so that your engineering teams can concentrate on their work rather than having to spend hours looking for a component or part.
When you have limited time and resources, you need the right products – fast. With more than 810,000 products available, rs-online.com provides instant access to our range, up-to-date stock levels and live pricing. You can source everything you need from one place, so no more wasted trips to multiple stockists – and procurement can relax knowing compliance is one less thing to worry about.
2. Order on the move
We know that many of our customers in facilities management work away from their desks and may be on site, whether that in a hospital or airport, corporate office or retail estate. This is why we created a hassle-free user experience for customers with mobile devices. Browse, search and order your products anytime, anywhere, giving your teams the flexibility and service they need.
3. Manage inventory and control spend
One of the biggest challenges in MRO procurement is ensuring you manage stock levels efficiently, and RS has created a service to make inventory management easy. RS ScanStock® helps customers in managing faster moving, low value MRO items – using barcode scanning technology and a team of dedicated specialists to check, order and replenish your inventory. The results? Reduced inventory carrying costs, less time receiving and putting away stock, improved reporting, streamlined processes, reduced shrinkage and improved availability.
4. Make purchases more efficient
To reduce inefficiency and costs from the MRO procurement process, having a smooth purchase-to-pay process is vital. RS has a range of eCommerce solutions that can integrate with your existing system helping to speed up the ordering process and reduce admin (which helps lower process costs), as well as decreasing the number of purchasing errors. By introducing an eCommerce Solution, you also gain greater control and can start to streamline your operations, saving both time and ultimately cutting your costs.
5. Buy products locally
When you urgently need a component or part that could potentially lead to downtime in your facility, instant access to these products is essential. RS has a network of 16 local branches spread across the UK, giving your teams same-day access to a wide range of products that have been specifically profiled to meet local demand.
In addition, our local branches give engineers who are on site the option to order via mobile and to collect products at their convenience or arrange secure drop off – making it easier than ever to reduce downtime and meet deadlines.
Find your closest RS Local branch here.
6. Get support when you need it
Many MRO orders can be highly technical or require parts that have set safety standards. To help customers find the right products for their needs and to provide technical expertise to answer your questions, RS has a comprehensive customer service centre. Our UK call centre operates 24/7, 365 days a year. We also operate a live chat service for customers who want to ask questions online. In addition, RS has a team of qualified engineers who can discuss technical issues and provide advice over the phone.
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